NASCAR Cup Series driver Kyle Busch. Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Tire issues mount for NASCAR Cup Series drivers at Phoenix

By Samuel Stubbs | Last updated Mar 8, 2026 5:15 PM ET

Less than halfway through Sunday's NASCAR Cup Series Straight Talk Wireless 500 at Phoenix Raceway, tire issues are already rearing their ugly heads.

Blown tires were a major issue at Phoenix in the fall of 2025, and teams continued to risk low tire pressures this weekend in search of more speed.

Saturday's practice session saw Brad Keselowski, Riley Herbst and Chris Buescher suffer flat tires.

Flat tires doom several drivers at Phoenix

Sunday's race was no different.

Kyle Busch, who went a lap down in Stage 1 of Sunday's race, had a flat tire early in Stage 2 but was able to limp his No. 8 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet to pit road. After going two laps down, the caution flew after Shane van Gisbergen suffered a flat right rear tire and spun off the exit of turn 4.

Trouble for SVG couldn't have come at a better time for Kyle Busch after having his own issue early in Stage 2. pic.twitter.com/vfWAiO8Yow
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 8, 2026

The most consequential flat tire of the race so far came with just over 50 laps to go in the stage. While running third, Chase Briscoe suffered a flat right rear tire on the exit of turn 4 and slammed into the outside wall, incurring heavy suspension damage on his No. 19 Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota.

Trouble for Chase Briscoe! https://t.co/zgv2rI1QLc pic.twitter.com/kUNLKIZuNf
— FOX: NASCAR (@NASCARONFOX) March 8, 2026

Briscoe had previously complained on the radio about a vibration. He was forced to take his car behind pit wall and into the garage.

Samuel Stubbs

Hailing from the same neck of the woods as NASCAR Hall of Famer Mark Martin, Samuel has been covering NASCAR for Yardbarker since February 2024. He has been a member of the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) since October of 2024. When he’s not writing about racing, Samuel covers Arkansas Razorback basketball for Yardbarker

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